tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91889115196780919172017-09-07T15:46:58.451-07:00PhDKingBusinessEP Lockleyhttps://plus.google.com/103388382808402418676noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9188911519678091917.post-5621739336856515442012-11-06T05:25:00.000-08:002012-11-06T05:25:47.557-08:00Managing the Foster Child<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="139" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT2iPCvBvTABo5rlyl8RCZmFNPZ25cZvxbvtLYJOqYU00SZDH3NKQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Remember!</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Giving and receiving love is what the Creator intended.</span></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /><br /></div><div>Establishing your home as an open house for children in need of services is a rewarding move. One of the mandates of God to believers is to take care of the widows and orphans. Many people assist in the lives of those that are in need, allow me to add that a special help is needed for children in need of services.</div><div><br /></div><div>Parents of children in foster care have fallen short on the road of life and may need time to get their life back on track. Because of the issues that children face in homes of lack, they are short of many life skills that children in their age group possess. This is the best opportunity to pour life into children so that they may have a solid foundation to build their future upon.</div><div><br /></div><div>First, one seeking to become a foster care provider should have a loving mentality. Children that come into foster care are very&nbsp;lovable&nbsp;and will respond well to real love. These children can sense when someone is a "fake". &nbsp;While some are longing for the day when they can be re-united with their birth parents or original caregiver, they want a&nbsp;lovable&nbsp;foster parent who provides a nurturing and enriching environment.</div><div><br /></div><div>Second, you must get your personal life and physical home in good shape. An agency will not place a child in your home if you have unsafe living conditions or certain persons that are hanging around that live questionable lifestyles. You must be a good example for the child(ren) that you will take in. Protection is a major concern, as these children were removed from a home where they were neglected on in harms way.</div><div><br /></div><div>Third, you must be willing to go through the ups and downs that most foster kids experience as the adjust to a new living arrangement. Kids do not respond well when they are in places of uncertainty. As a provider you must continue to assure the child(ren) that I am here for you and will see you through this. A constant reminder that you will protect them from any unwanted experiences will soothe their souls. &nbsp;According to Abraham Maslow, we must secure basic needs like food, clothing, and shelter to have a strong foundation to life. After those simple needs are there, then we need love and security needs to be productive citizens. Children can go a long way when those basic level needs are provided.</div><div><br /></div><div>Fourth, you must be a facilitator of passion. Each child has a future that you will be responsible for assisting with their preparation. This means that you must be the child's advocate. In school, the child may not be on task with learning skills. You must be focused on ensuring that the child is learning. Emotionally, the child may have a problem moving forward due to self esteem problems. As the child's advocate, you must enrich the child with life skills that can move the child from places they are stuck. Self-help skills are important. Teach the child how to mix and match an outfit, iron their clothing, dress, tie their shoes, keep up their hygiene, fix a quick meal, love another person, share what little they have and how to dream.</div><div><br /></div><div>Finally, managing the foster child is not hard. Most of us are natural parents. Some people say, I have enough with my own children or I can't take in another child. Others say, I raised my children and I'm through with child rearing. Kudos! I'm glad that they were successful in rearing their own children and I praise them. However, managing a foster child has its rewards. First, managing foster care children brings on a special blessing from the Father, who gave us His word to take care of the orphans. With obedience, God intervenes. Next, raising children keeps of mental&nbsp;physique&nbsp;in shape. Raising a child keeps us alert! Alive! We wake up each day stronger because we give and&nbsp;receive&nbsp;love that is rewarding.</div><div><br /></div><div>Giving and&nbsp;receiving&nbsp;love is what the Creator intended. For God is one who yearns for the fellowship of His children. &nbsp;</div>EP Lockleyhttps://plus.google.com/103388382808402418676noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9188911519678091917.post-76925082345681049562012-07-05T02:22:00.002-07:002012-07-05T02:22:56.154-07:00Working in the Field<h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here are&nbsp;online links to my accomplishments</span>:</h2><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.scribd.com/DrELockleySr"><em><span style="background-color: white; font-family: &quot;Courier New&quot;, Courier, monospace;">http://www.scribd.com/DrELockleySr</span></em></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://la.milesplit.com/teams/CVIL/roster"><em><span style="background-color: white; font-family: &quot;Courier New&quot;, Courier, monospace;">http://la.milesplit.com/teams/CVIL/roster</span></em></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://la.milesplit.com/teams/MORG/roster"><em><span style="font-family: &quot;Courier New&quot;, Courier, monospace;">http://la.milesplit.com/teams/MORG/roster</span></em></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.banner-tribune.com/view/full_story/14446405/article-Several-locals-qualify-for-AAU-Junior-Olympics"><em><span style="font-family: &quot;Courier New&quot;, Courier, monospace;">http://www.banner-tribune.com/view/full_story/14446405/article-Several-locals-qualify-for-AAU-Junior-Olympics</span></em></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/82384141/Homophobia-and-School-Laws"><em><span style="font-family: &quot;Courier New&quot;, Courier, monospace;">http://www.scribd.com/doc/82384141/Homophobia-and-School-Laws</span></em></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.stmary.k12.la.us/mcjhs/clubs/brothers/main.htm"><em><span style="font-family: &quot;Courier New&quot;, Courier, monospace;">http://www.stmary.k12.la.us/mcjhs/clubs/brothers/main.htm</span></em></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://la.milesplit.com/teams/MORG/announcements"><em><span style="font-family: &quot;Courier New&quot;, Courier, monospace;">http://la.milesplit.com/teams/MORG/announcements</span></em></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.stmary.k12.la.us/mcjhs/Academics/FACS/facshome.htm"><em><span style="font-family: &quot;Courier New&quot;, Courier, monospace;">http://www.stmary.k12.la.us/mcjhs/Academics/FACS/facshome.htm</span></em></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.stmary.k12.la.us/chs/clubs.htm"><em><span style="font-family: &quot;Courier New&quot;, Courier, monospace;">http://www.stmary.k12.la.us/chs/clubs.htm</span></em></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://la.milesplit.com/meets/66389/results/114708"><em><span style="font-family: &quot;Courier New&quot;, Courier, monospace;">http://la.milesplit.com/meets/66389/results/114708</span></em></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.lahershey.net/2011%20Locals%20Listing%20for%20website2.pdf"><em><span style="font-family: &quot;Courier New&quot;, Courier, monospace;">http://www.lahershey.net/2011%20Locals%20Listing%20for%20website2.pdf</span></em></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://eliteyouth.com/rf2011/ClubRoster.asp?Club=Greater%20St.%20Mary%20Track%20Club"><em><span style="font-family: &quot;Courier New&quot;, Courier, monospace;">http://eliteyouth.com/rf2011/ClubRoster.asp?Club=Greater%20St.%20Mary%20Track%20Club</span></em></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.athletic.net/TrackAndField/EventRecords.aspx?SchoolID=29659"><em><span style="font-family: &quot;Courier New&quot;, Courier, monospace;">http://www.athletic.net/TrackAndField/EventRecords.aspx?SchoolID=29659</span></em></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>EP Lockleyhttps://plus.google.com/103388382808402418676noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9188911519678091917.post-23770969130195099512012-07-02T19:22:00.001-07:002012-07-02T19:22:53.311-07:00Marriage Expectation Survey<a href="http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/6XMG7XX">Click here to take survey</a><br /><br />EP Lockleyhttps://plus.google.com/103388382808402418676noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9188911519678091917.post-90315069956456915552012-06-08T20:17:00.000-07:002012-06-08T20:17:03.132-07:00Faith Filled WordsThis summer has already spun an unique flavor for creativity in my life. I took some much needed time to focus on my indivual self, being a bit selfish, but also reflecting on my purpose in life. After the first two weeks of reflection, I realized that, I have negelected to take care of my needs. <br /><br />The calling I possess is demanding. In running to and from helping relieve the effects of Sin on humanity, I lacked people who would pour into my life. People need peolpe. We need others to keep us going.<br /><br />I have a few persons that pour life perserving words into me. These are the people that matter the most. I must seek relationships that provide life to where I am headed in life. There are so many people that are downtrodden and are not in position to pour life into others that it becomes a struggle to progress. I find that giving people assistance in the form of life skills is a great way turn them into positive life energy. This is the way I have used FAITH filled words to impact my life path.<br /><br />Speaking to situations in life is one way to sustain life. Talking to life situations may sound like a mental issue but it is Scriptural truth. Jesus spoke to every dead situation. Jesus' goal was obvious throughout ministry, He reversed the effects of Sin nature everywhere He traveled.<br /><br />Jesus' teachings were plain. We call Jesus' teachings 'parables' because they illustrated physical properties to explain heavenly principles. Since many humans may not see the spiritual world, using the physical world is the best way to teach the unseen world. Faith is what we need to get things from the spiritual side into the physical. The Bible records that every man has been given the same amount of faith. However, people that exercise this measure of faith builds stronger faith. <br /><br />Faith is the assurance that what we can not see is real. Faith converts hope(future)to right now. The Bible is clear that a man can have what he say. The words we speak are vehicles that transport our needs and desires into the right now state of being. There is a catch 22 with faith.<br /><br />There is a catch 22 with faith. Time exist in the physical. The spiritual real rest in eternity. Because we are spiritual beings having a physical experience, we have the catch 22 problem. Everything we need is already provided for us in eternity. We live in the physical where time has authority. It takes faith to overrule time. When we say what we want and act on what we want, then we get what we want and bear witness. Action faith is speaking out the need while at the same time beleiving we have it already. God backs up radical faith, according to Scripture. So expect the guarenteed package because God's word says waht we can have. <br /><br />My favorite example of faith in action contained in the Bible is when Jesus goes curses a fig tree. It was not fig season during the time this story was recorded as taking place. However Jesus spotted that tree with leaves. A fig tree with leaves means that the tree should have figs. When Jesus approached the fig tree, He found that there were no figs. He told the tree, "from this day no man will ever eat from you again". The followers of Jesus were astonished that He talked to the tree. But on the way back from their destination, Mark noticed that from the roots, the tree had withered and died. Now that is some strong faith. <br /><br />We often have situations like Jesus and the fig tree scenerio. Sometimes, our relationships are showing leaves(potental) but bear no fruit (figs). I don't suggest cursing people, but putting them on a separate level of impact within our lives is necessary. We need each other. Relationships should not be one sided. In business when relationships are one sided, we tend to file a lawsuit to equal the tally.<br /><br />People who show leaves but bear no fruit in our lives should not be in position to influence our life path. These people should be spoken to and told where they stand. Speaking the truth in love so that we all my grow up in the body of Christ is necessary. Speaking to the people in reality is speaking to the evil spirits that influence them to rob you of your blessing. Tell the devils that as of today, you will no longer influence my path by taking away or dividing my blessing from Father God. You sow into me good words, good substences, good deeds, and I will do the same for you. This is how we change our path of poverty and destitution as a people of grace.<br /><br />As I close, Faith Filled Words are like the words God spoke at creation. God spoke the world into existence. As children of God, we too must speak our individual world into existence. Eat on this for a while.<br /><br />(This blog is a small excerpt of my upcoming book on Faith)<br /><br />Be Blessed,<br /><br />The Apostle E. Lockley Sr. BS, Mdiv-MFT, PhD-Ed (ABD)<br /><br />EP Lockleyhttps://plus.google.com/103388382808402418676noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9188911519678091917.post-89974786867709526032012-04-29T09:41:00.001-07:002012-04-29T09:41:13.684-07:00The Lord's Day: 11 Steps to Becoming Gifted!<h2>It is your gift that brings you wealth!</h2><h3 style="text-align: center;">How to activate my gift from God.</h3><br />Our lives have a purpose. For some, discovering that purpose has been hidden. How do you determine what is necessary to become the person you were meant to become? How do you serve your purpose? Allow me to share my reflection on purpose in our lives.<br /><br />I am a Scripture based writer. My etiology emanates from the wisdom of God that I learned back in Sunday school, YPWW, and Bible study. I also believe that if any man lacks wisdom, ask God.<br /><br />Purpose is an intentional set of principles designed to do a specific job. In our lives, purpose dates back to the garden of Eden and the Adam/Eve account. It was Jesus, who spoke the wisdom of God and was recorded by witnesses. Jesus is recorded stating that "in the beginning it was not so", when asked a question about divorce. If divorce is not God's true purpose for marriage then it was meant to be permanent. However, discovering purpose then, highlights the set of principles for the job it was set to accomplish.<br /><br />If all the above is true then, discovering purpose takes wisdom.&nbsp;Wisdom is the proper application of knowledge and understanding in a given scenario. Wisdom takes precedence over all human authority and mandates. Wisdom is so powerful because it is backed by God's truth and love. In every courtroom I have entered, wisdom overrules the laws. Wisdom also removes bias and prejudice because it is backed by truth.<br /><br />Our earthly purpose is stated in Genesis 1-3 and then supported throughout Old and New Testament Scripture. We represented God's authority in the earth. We fell away from God's authority and was overruled by Satan. We regained God's authority in the earth when Jesus was raised from the dead and ascended to heaven. The parables of Jesus all reference our passage and purpose in the earth. In the parables we are pilgrims far away from home and were given the blessing of our Father for safe keeping and return to where we came from. The trip we are now undergoing is conditional and has set principles in place to complete the journey. One principle is the heaven and earth law. We are to demand that the principles in heaven be done also on earth.&nbsp;(This principle is found in the Lord's prayer)<br /><br />Our gift from Father God is beautiful. Everyone has a gift from God. Jesus makes reference to the talents or gifts in St. Matthews. Some take a gift and multiply it. Others use the gift as is with no growth. Still others take the gift from God and bury it for safekeeping. Father God gets angry when we bury our gift for safekeeping. One reason for His anger is because the gift He freely gave us is our only way to a fruitful life in the earth. It is our gift that opens doors that normally are closed. Our gift brings us before people afforded God given ruling authority. Failure to recognize our God given talent brings poverty and rebuke. Jesus is recorded saying to the one who chose burial for his gift, "why didn't you invest what was given, why didn't you do like the others and make more with what I gave you,&nbsp; depart from me because what you did was mock me".&nbsp; <br /><br />I would hate to hear Jesus tell me to depart from his presence. Telling someone to depart from them is a phrase of disgust and rebuke and punishment. Look at your present state of mind and determine if you have recognized your own gift. Your gift is what interests you. Your gift is what makes you perk up when you actually carry out just a slight part of it. Your gift draws that same types of opportunities to you over and over again until you grab hold of it and apply it to make sense of the world around you.<br /><br />If a man lacks wisdom, ask God. First, thank Father God for your gift. Next, ask Father God to illuminate and confirm your gift. Then, seek knowledge to understand the gift. For example, I was confirmed by different members of spiritual leadership about my gift and the path I had to take to sharpen it for maximum effect. I did exactly what was repeatedly spoken to me and have been overshadowed by the wisdom of God that brings tumultuous revelations all day long about the potentials my gift can accomplish.<br /><br />Finally, seek out persons with the same gift you have. Each individual has a uniqueness about their gift that can not be imitated; A brand that will never be replicated. As you surround yourself with like minded persons, each of you will become better. One proverb states that "iron sharpens iron". One gift working in concert with another similar gift makes both of them operate more efficiently. An example includes the musician. Musicians working together produces melodies that pierces the human soul. Each gift is used to&nbsp;create a&nbsp;chemistry formula making the band sound great and unique. Wisdom is at work when we use our gifts for the good of humanity. Foolishness is at work when we use our gifts to destroy humanity. (Go figure!)<br /><br /><em>Here are some key ingredients to consider in bringing your gift alive. When we accept our gift from God and use it in the earth we step out of time into eternity as I call it "The Lord's Day". Every moment in time does not matter in The Lord's Day because even though time ticks&nbsp;I believe&nbsp;our gift remains with us forever.</em><br /><br />STEPS TO BECOMING GIFTED<br /><br /><ol><li>Rebuke fear!</li><li>Replace it with truth! </li><li>Pray for Godly wisdom.</li><li>Write down the title of your gift.&nbsp; </li><li>Share the title of your gift with others. Be ready for rejection and denial from many close to you.</li><li>Define what your gift does? Study the definition and visualize yourself working the gift in the smallest form.</li><li>Discover famous or known persons with your gift. Observe how they use the gift. Imitate what they do. </li><li>Get educated on the workings of&nbsp;your gift. Read and research what others say about it. Take courses or find a mentor who has mastered his/her gift.</li><li>Build friendships with person with the same type of gift.</li><li>Work in areas that strengthen your gift.</li><li>Brand your own version of the gift.</li></ol>Rev. Erric P. Lockley Sr.,<br />PhD Educational Leadership Program, Mdiv-MFT, BS-FACSEP Lockleyhttps://plus.google.com/103388382808402418676noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9188911519678091917.post-3943337294199393052012-04-27T22:35:00.000-07:002012-04-27T22:35:06.308-07:00A Soulmate?Choosing A Mate<br /><br />Gathering information from the Bible shows that we are intended to have a soul mate. A soul mate is the exact compliment of our person. How do we find this person? How will we know if this is the person? The Scriptures state if any man lacks wisdom, let him ask God. Asking God is the best way to insure that the person of consideration is your soul mate.<br /><br />The story of Isaac and Rebekah is one of many stories in Scripture that gives an example of acquiring a soulmate. A servant of Abraham was sent out on a mission to find Isaac's wife through a simple test. This woman was the perfect match for him. Together it was their destiny to continue the messianic line towards Jesus Christ.<br /><br />Ruth and Boaz is another story with reconassaince of a soulmate. Ruth had been a victim of a seedless marriage between brothers. Each brother died before bearing a child with Ruth and there remained no more brothers for Ruth in succession as tradition held. As a result Naomi, Ruth's mother in law lived together. They lived in poverty and survived off the leftovers of the field.&nbsp;Boaz noticed her and favored her, commanding the harvesters&nbsp;to leave some of the overflow if Ruth would continue to harvest.&nbsp;Naomi&nbsp;knew that Ruth had met her soulmate based on the way she questioned&nbsp;her on her return.<br /><br />In the original plan of creation God created the woman out of Adam. The Scripture has it that God recognized Adam's loneliness and created his helpmeet. What is interesting about this is that Adam never asked for his mate. Adam had named all of creation male and female but yet he had no corresponding companion. However, God completed him with the extraction of the woman from within Adam. <br /><br />A soulmate then is assigned by God of whom already know the perfect match for man. In Scripture it is stated that it is the man who finds his wife. If this holds true, then a woman is to prepare herself to be chosen by the man of whom is her match. This sounds sexist and may not be adequate for nonbeleivers or contemporary beleivers and its not a sin in my opinion. However, if two persons want to be happy in marriage and family it makes it ideal to consider what was intended in the beginning.<br /><br />Jesus taught that divorce was not God's best plan for mankind.&nbsp; In biblical history, God divorced the Hebrews for a spell and then reconciled later.&nbsp; This is interesting because God is shown here to be emotional and intolerant of disobediant individuals. Nevertheless He is characterized as setting expectations that were not met and the consequences was discipline by separation.<br /><br />In New Testament, the church is the bride of Christ. Ironically like Father God, the divorce of the church is unlikely as these are people who are obedient and are covered by the blood of Jesus for the remission of sins.&nbsp; What is noted here is that human marriage is a symbolic union that imitates the union of the Godhead and mankind as mentioned in New Testament and hinted through Old Testament Scripture. This allegorical relationship reflects back to the soulmate expression.<br /><br />A Soulmate? Yes. A soulmate in an earthly union is the perfect match of persons for maximum life. Its not logical to divorce a spouse if the one you have wish to remain with you, according to the pauline theology. There are some cases where the exception is the norm, but again, if a man lacks wisdom let him ask God.<br /><br />If you are single and want true happiness in a future marriage, meditate over the previous concepts and apply to future decision making.<br /><br />Read more on this subject in my book, "Before I Say I Do".<br /><br />Reverend Erric P. Lockley Sr.<br />PhD Educational LeadershipEP Lockleyhttps://plus.google.com/103388382808402418676noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9188911519678091917.post-61429023553335796022012-04-24T11:27:00.000-07:002012-04-24T11:27:46.599-07:00Your Baby has a Brain<h2><em>'How deep we prepare our children for education is how high of a capacity they have to grow.'&nbsp; Lockley</em></h2><img class="sg_t" height="175px" src="http://ts2.mm.bing.net/images/thumbnail.aspx?q=4560529972267173&amp;id=d2b9816d0ba1af64b3602da601520756&amp;url=http%3a%2f%2fwww.clker.com%2fcliparts%2f5%2f6%2f3%2f0%2f12236128922042020710monstara_Brain.svg.hi.png" style="height: 175px; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 250px;" width="250px" /><br />Changing the focus of raising our children has to move from physical abilities to cognitive abilities. To be competitive in the global economy our children must have brain stimulation as early as in the mother's womb. Environment is a contributing factor to brain stimulation in infants and children. The ability to stimulate our child's early learning prepares them for the more rigorous curriculum that are now being implemented.<br /><br />Our child is left behind because as parents we depend on the system to teach and train them what parents should have already done. In my past observations, I have noticed that children who achieve in school are mostly the ones that have had brain stimulation away from school. For example, a toddler entering Pre-K is expected to learn the basic skills in forming language, comprehension, and critical thinking. In a setting where all the Pre-K students are learning the alphabets, a prepared child would immediately connect what the parent taught them to where the teacher is taking them in language development.<br /><br />It is every teachers dream to have a classroom full of students that are prepared for enrichment and critical thinking activities. A prepared child is a knowledgeable one with the ability&nbsp;to grow&nbsp;cognitively at or above their peers. I am a product of home preparation for learning. My mother invested in a phonetic program which allowed me to become an advanced reader&nbsp;by second grade. Another student was also enriched with this phonetic program and was an excellent reader. We both read fluently and moved quickly through the reading program levels. The teacher recommended that we be allowed to leave the reading class and go into the high school classroom for reading. It was an rewarding and yet embarrassing feeling each day as we climbed into those huge desk and opened the reading book to the selected story. The procedure was for each student to read two sentences and the person seated directly behind in the row would read the next two sentences. The high school students began to read and I couldn't believe what I was hearing. A large percentage of them were having trouble reading the text. Some read a word and paused to pronounce the next, others mispronounced words, and a few couldn't read at all. It was my turn. I put my finger on the first sentence and read fluently. Everyone in the class turned to look at me as I read their textbook without any trouble. Whispering around the room could be heard as the students were puzzled at how a second grader read on their level. I wasn't a genius, I was prepared. My mother took her "hard to come by" money and&nbsp; brought me the tools I needed to excel.<br /><br />You as parents can do the same with your children. My advanced reading skills provided for more enriched teaching time. My advanced reading skills allow me to become a great elementary math student. Many times in elementary my math teacher Mrs. B. would summon me to the board to work "complicated" multiplication, division, and percentage problems. What I didn't realize is that teachers were gathered at the window of the classroom door watching me work math on the chalkboard. I was not a genius, I was prepared.<br /><br />In the global economy, we have a wealth of information online to assist in preparing our child for school. No child should be left behind. As an educator I do agree that there are some teachers who are not skilled at teaching children of other ethnic groups. Some are prejudice. Some are bias. Some are not teachers. Once a student falls behind in any subject area, he or she will not advance without going back and learning what was missed. Building a skyscrapers takes a great foundation. We look these massive and tall buildings in amazement because we know it took a great amount of effort to complete such a project. We many of us don't think about is the depthness of the foundation of the skyscraper. An engineer told me that as high as the beams are above the ground, they are just as deep in the ground. If that holds true, then it applies to our child's brain development. <br /><br />How deep we prepare our children for education is how high of a capacity they have to grow. A teacher has to work with what you send to them. We expect miracles, we expect teachers to walk on water, and raise your child from the dead when that is not their job. A teacher's job is to facilitate your child's learning through a systematic predefined curriculum designed by specialist. The learning experiences in the classroom are designed to prepare students for future continual growth and to become good contributing citizens. After all, schools use tax dollars to pay the bills.<br /><br />Erric Lockley, Sr.,<br />PhD Educational LeadershipEP Lockleyhttps://plus.google.com/103388382808402418676noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9188911519678091917.post-44991606975228257662012-04-21T17:46:00.001-07:002012-04-21T17:46:56.882-07:00What Spring Have To Do With It?This morning I set out to clean my storage unit. It was long overdue. The plan was to begin consolidating and getting rid of things of no longer use. I attempted to open the door to the unit and had some trouble with the lock. With a few jerks back and forth, it finally gave way and I opened the door. Suddenly, there I was staring at the accumulation of things from my adult past. There were items in my storage that were for family members. Items from my coaching career, colleges, past jobs, places I've visited, and much much more. There I stood looking at all the things that represented myself. <br /><br />I began cleaning the unit starting on the right side and planned to work on the left side later. I condensed old boxes, threw away items that were covered in mildew, and dumped old important papers in the trunk of the car for shredding. Once I made it mid-way through the unit, I resigned and returned home. My motivation for this task stemmed from future plans to move. I wanted to get a head start.<br /><br />Tradition has it, that spring is the time to clean up and rid old items. Perhaps deep inside my intellect, this was another motivation for the trip to the storage unit. I took family items and packed them in the car to return to them. I dumped all paperwork and books into the trunk of the car for later discovery. I moved a few things around as well. Finally, I shut the door and locked it. Off I went, back home to discover the items in the trunk of the car and rid old items. I felt good! <br /><br />Life has a way of storing lots of junk in our beings. We go through so much suffering and pain in the course of the human life cycle that most times we forget that most important step. It is a wise idea to focus on the present. However, if we have not dealt with yesterday appropriately we end up storing lots and lots of old baggage.We take a lick in and keep on ticking! Do we? Have we dealt with those issues that have taunted us from childhood. Have we confronted the bullies that made our life miserable. What happen after a breakup with a significant other? Did we enter a rebound relationship? Feelings of hurt and pain leads to lots and lots of extra baggage that we must go back and clean up.<br /><br />In families these unsettled issues plague our happiness. Our love and trust sensors are damaged and we prey on weaker vessels returning the favor of what happen to us. Hurting people hurt others! True but sad case.<br /><br />Like my trip to the storage unit today, we must also take personal inventory and begin cleaning up our past torts that continues to interfere with our happiness. Here is where our spirituality becomes reality. We must open up and allow Father God to operate in us for restoration. I believe that God works through others to bring us back to healthy status. However it starts with forgiving others and asking them to forgive you. <br /><br />When we forgive another, we let go of the issues that presented the hurt in the relationship. We heal and move on to bigger and better life challenges. A goal to accomplish is to be in mental and physical shape to assist others out of their past hurts. When we master forgiveness and understand how faulty the human really is, we take on another view of mankind that is remarkable and pleasant for all future interactions. When we forgive we lock our faith and trust in God, because we know He have forgiving us. <br /><br />Spring has a lot to do with our lives. Spring is a time of healing. Spring is a time to clean up the damage from the past. Spring brings pleasant weather after all the bad storms from the winter that weaken us. Without springtime in our lives many people would remain broken and disdained from happiness.<br /><br />Family, friends,&nbsp; enemies alike should all focus on springtime. Take a personal inventory and gather all the help we need to rid old mildewed issues that stink from our past. Consolidate hurt and pain into one and toss out unforgiveness with love.<br /><br />Walking in relationship with God helps us move past our hurts and begin repairing damaged parts to bring us back to healthy status. Try it and See!<br /><br />ErricEP Lockleyhttps://plus.google.com/103388382808402418676noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9188911519678091917.post-57427092545618426482012-04-20T19:15:00.002-07:002015-07-27T10:49:06.681-07:00The Truth About Education in Poverty Stricken EnvironmentsIlliteracy is a major enemy of the scholar. The inability to comprehend reading material has a long history throughout a child's school experience. In my experience through the classroom literacy crisis, I discovered a large portion of urban black and Hispanic students from impoverished communities do not like to read. Reading expands your mind and improves your intellect.<br /><br />I observed the scholars who have reading deficiencies. What I discovered is that illiterate students have a higher percentage rate of disturbing the class and skipping. An illiterate child has a need that is not being met and this stems all the way back to early childhood. <br /><br />What I have discovered in my experience is that students are already behind by kindergarten and first grade. There are many sources that can be faulted, but the main responsibility for building literacy skills rest solely on good parenting.<br /><br />Parents are the first and best teacher for their children, this is an old proverb that has heavy merit in child rearing. As parents, we put our children on a learning course well before school age. In fact, by the time a child is three years old, they have already gained the majority of their vocabulary for the rest of their lifetime. By the time our children are five years old, the brain begins to finish up its wiring cycle. This means that from the mother's womb until five years old, the brain's wiring capacity has reacted to the simulations from its environment.&nbsp; <br /><br />Depending on parenting and genetics, a child is already on track or behind before the first grade. What do we do about this problem. I recommend that parents start educating their child in the mother's womb. The baby's brain is like a sponge and it absorbs and records everything it sees, hear, smells, taste, and touch. Provide field trips for your child to places where you may teach simple things like colors, shapes, numbers, animals, nature, science, math, and many other concepts. Children may react as if they didn't get the lesson but be assured, they got it. Stimulating the brain is a task for the parent. Children don't know how to react to things or situations in which they never had an experience. However, once the child has another experience with the intended lesson the brain automatically recalls the material. As experts, we call this the scaffolding technique. <br /><br />Learning how to stimulate our child is the best thing we could do for our child. When children enter school the teacher has a specific pattern in which they will begin training children for basic knowledge building. If a child has had a previous experience before the classroom lesson, then the brain automatically connects past knowledge with present knowledge. This action is repetitive. Connecting the past and present knowledge sets up your child for future learning.<br /><br />Back to the high school classroom- students who face illiteracy issues are disruptive mainly because they are not comprehending the materials being presented or simply not interested. Who's fault is this? Did the educational system fail this child? The answers lie between the early years and middle school experiences.<br /><br />I have worked in the classroom from early childhood through high school. I have worked with third grade scholars that were already behind on literary skills. Somehow, these particular scholars missed learning the objective in the past levels and could not add new knowledge because they were struggling with skills they never comprehended. According to Benjamin Bloom taxonomy, we construct knowledge on levels from simplistic to complex. One must gain knowledge on basic terms before he is able to move towards more complex reasoning. The brain does not absorb what it can't comprehend. I have found some success in the classroom when I retaught&nbsp;a skill that should have been learned on previous levels. But with the demands of high stakes testing, teachers can not spend time reteaching concepts from previous grades. Is this the teacher's fault? Parent's? Child's?<br /><br />Simply put- Parents are responsible for their child's training. The government took over teaching children so that people would be good citizens and great taxpayers. However, the government is not really concerned with if your child is truly left behind. There are pressures on school districts to produce results. Here is a fast fact: teachers must focus their lesson planning and presentation towards students who are on level learners, because these are the students who will score satisfactory and above on standardized testing. &nbsp;Struggling students may attend tutoring sessions, but many of them do not take the time to attend. Therefore scholar learning is the parent's responsibility. In one of my courses, a student failed to complete an assignment. When I entered the grades in the electronic grade book, this student was given a zero. A message automatically was sent to the parents email address. Five minutes after I entered the grade the parent was on the phone requesting a conference. This parent quickly intervened with their child's poor behavior and corrected it. The child did not miss another assignment and carried an A average the rest of the semester.<br /><br />Advice- Poverty can be a barrier in both the quality of educational delivery and attainment, but we should not blame poverty as the culprit to earning a good education. In other words, the cycle of failure stops with the parent when they make their child read.<br /><br />Knowledge is power.<br /><br /><br /><br />EP Lockleyhttps://plus.google.com/103388382808402418676noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9188911519678091917.post-84571517937272216532012-04-19T18:23:00.001-07:002012-04-19T18:23:18.393-07:00How Much Funding Is Enough for Proper Schooling?<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: auto 0in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">National attention has caused the accountability movement to shift from equity to adequacy. A more equitable distribution of resources for districts is a continuing plight for reformers. However, the accountability movement has drawn major attention towards adequacy. Schools must provide adequate education which is a constitutional act. The relationship between equity and adequacy then is interlaced in the democracy of better schooling. Adequacy is a bottom level term. When determining how much is adequate and what is equal funding then equality becomes a concern. Providing the same opportunities and resources to all children is ideal for equality. However, reformers become too focused on the outcomes of equality rather than its’ inputs<sdt citation="t" id="96128485"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>(Picus, 2004)</span></sdt>. What comes to mind is that monies provided to schools are for equal input, though funding varies across districts.The students have the responsibility of scoring above the state’s targeted goal of achievement<sdt citation="t" id="96128486"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>(Strike, 2010)</span></sdt>. Thus, equality in school funding when viewed through the lenses of outputs and a child left behind shadows a perception of injustice<sdt citation="t" id="96128487"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>(Strike, 2010)</span></sdt>. Here is where the variables of representation become scrutinized. When unjust acts are the cause of a child left behind, then equality becomes the focus<sdt citation="t" id="96128488"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>(Strike, 2010)</span></sdt>. So in the process of good schooling and equalizing funding, adequate education must be meticulously defined. School funding is expected to be equal across districts, be a resource of adequate education and produce equality in the entire schooling process. </span></div><div class="MsoBibliographyCxSpFirst" style="margin: auto auto auto 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">Brimley, V. (2007). <i>Financing education in a climate of change</i> (10 ed.). Allyn and Beacon Inc.</span></span></div><div class="MsoBibliographyCxSpMiddle" style="margin: auto auto auto 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-no-proof: yes;">Picus, L. (2004). School finance adequacy: Implications for school principals. <i>NASSP Bulletin</i> <i>, 88</i> (3), 1-12.</span></div><div class="MsoBibliographyCxSpLast" style="margin: auto auto auto 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-no-proof: yes;">Strike, K. (2010). Charter schools choice, and distributive justice: What evidence do we need? <i>Theory and Research in Education</i> <i>, 8</i> (63), 64-72.</span></div>EP Lockleyhttps://plus.google.com/103388382808402418676noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9188911519678091917.post-35995438834462430362012-04-16T18:27:00.000-07:002012-04-16T18:27:00.842-07:00Preparing Your Child for LifeShe repeats everything but refuses to pay attention when I try to teach her numbers and alphabets.<br /><br />It is the middle and upper class that focus on child development in their young. One reason is that this is the way they were raised. In life we copy what we see and do what we remember. After all, there is no official book that details how to raise children. We repeat what was done to us. As individuals, everyone is unique. This is why as young adults, we filter what was judged as acceptable and moral from the opposite. These values and beleifs form a new system of thinking which guides the way we raise our children.<br /><br />In poor families there are little to no options in child development. As I study poor economic neighborhoods across America, one thing sticks out like a sore thumb. Poor neighborhoods lack order and structure. The means of creativity is there but is used to demoralize the scenery. Poor neighborhoods have just as much creativity and gifted people as the middle and upper class. The ideas are there. The people do vision. But repeatedly, generation after generation families do not rise above that of their parents level of functioning. America blames the parents of poor households for not seeing to their child's education. I beleive all parents want the best for their child and I have seen exceptions. The problem with child development in poor communities is that 1. Poor parents work harder for less money. 2. There is no resources in the home to increase the child's alertness and cognitive maturity. 3. The cycle of poverty dictate limitations of proper role models and visionaries. 4. Education is not a priority, survival is... 5. Poor people are shunned in society and assigned lower standards by everyone.<br /><br />Genetics has some influence on your child. In my recent observations of a foster child genetics appeared to dominate choices and decisions the child made. For example, the bad habits of the parents were carried out by the child who never observed this behavior. The father has multiple charges of theft. The mother has the same. The child exhibited craftiness when attempting to take something that was forbidden. This may seem normal because at the toddler stage, they are not able to contol their desires and wants. Nor can toddlers id control its ego. In this case the child cleverly apprehended known restricted items in the presence of the adult giving the charge. The adult did not recognize what was being done and became shocked when this genetic marker was exposed.<br /><br />Environmental rearing is very important. In this case the child is corrected each time the unwanted behavior occurs. However, delivering consequences was not so rewarding. The child continued the unwanted behavior despite increasing discipline measures. Persistence gradually gained momentum in controlling the behavior but it is still not extinct. Rearing a child with a difficult temperament is a taxing job for most parents that reared easy temperament children. The goal in the environment is to pursue correcting the child and teaching the child what is acceptable. One option to get the child on track is to use the reward system when the expectations are met. As time elaspes, gradually removing the reward is warranted until no reward is given.<br /><br />Children have stages that they pass through over time. Learning thses stages can help a parent determine if their child is at or above target at the age group. When a child is not meeting the markers of a particular stage, the parent must seek help from another source to determine how to get the child to advance. In poor families there is little or no knowledge about resources to get the child help. Often poor families accept the deficiency in the child using genetics as an excuse. <br /><br />Every mother should initiate an educational program from the moment they confirm pregnancy. Nutrition is very important and folate is one major nutrient that is needed for brain development in neonatals. In the case of the foster child, an hypothesis is that the child picked up unwanted behaviors and language while the mother carried her. The child is above target after three years of special attention and help from social programs. <br /><br />Literacy is the name of the game parents must play to prepare their child for life. It is noted that illiterate people end up in undesirable places throughout life. In poor families literacy is a must have dynasty. Early learning must begin while the child is in the womb. Once the child is born into society there is only a few years to build a solid foundation for your child's life. The goal of literacy is to offer general skills to advance your child's cognitive functioning. <br /><br />Educating toddlers must include language, science, math, technology, and social skills. The best method of educating toddlers is through playing and creative activities. Field trips expose children to all these subjects at once. Children remember field trip experiences because it ignites the neurons in the brain when a new environment is being explored. As a parent you are your child's first and best teacher. You set the stage for future learning. We should not wait for the pre-k teacher to educate our child. Waiting for another to do our job is taking a big chance and in most cases parents are the ones that takes the lost.<br /><br />Finally, it is important to build self efficacy in yourself and child. Having an I can do it attitude changes the momentum in the learning game. I watched the toddler in care become frustrated and said, I can't do it. This is one place the parent uses to build self efficacy. Assisting the child to do it each time with gradually little or no help is the goal. A child gains confidence from the outside first and then inside. Once inside confidence is achieved the goal is accomplished.&nbsp;Pick your fights wisely parents. You can't fix everything at once but you can choose the most important issue at hand, then move on to the next battle.EP Lockleyhttps://plus.google.com/103388382808402418676noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9188911519678091917.post-5103327092634735402012-04-14T15:39:00.001-07:002012-04-14T15:39:32.524-07:00PhDKingBusiness Where Everything Matters<span xmlns=''><p><span style='color:#666666; font-family:Segoe UI; font-size:7pt'>By: Reverend Erric P. Lockley Sr., BS-FACS, CFSS; Mdiv-MFT; PhD-Educational Leadership<br /></span></p><p><span style='color:#666666; font-family:Segoe UI; font-size:7pt'>As time allows, I plan to continually add great content to this blog. The major topics here will include: Marriage and Family, Education, Christian Theology, and Track and Field Coaching Tips..<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-size:7pt'><span style='color:#666666; font-family:Segoe UI'><br/></span><span style='color:black; font-family:Verdana'><strong>Education<br /></strong></span></span></p><p><a href='http://tinyurl.com/7r3rxtt'><span style='font-family:Verdana; font-size:7pt'><strong>http://tinyurl.com/7r3rxtt</strong></span></a><span style='color:black; font-family:Verdana; font-size:7pt'><strong> Read About School Finance<br /></strong></span></p><p><a href='http://tinyurl.com/76urfs9'>http://tinyurl.com/76urfs9</a> Read about Social Emotional Learning for Improving Teacher Student Relationship<br /></p><p><a href='http://tinyurl.com/6rm6ryy'><span style='font-family:Verdana; font-size:7pt'><strong>http://tinyurl.com/6rm6ryy</strong></span></a><span style='color:black; font-family:Verdana; font-size:7pt'><strong> School Funding Strategy to discuss with your State Representatives<br /></strong></span></p><p><br /> </p><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Verdana; font-size:7pt'><strong>Family<br /></strong></span></p><p><a href='http://preview.tinyurl.com/7bagpyk'><span style='font-family:Verdana; font-size:7pt'><strong>http://preview.tinyurl.com/7bagpyk</strong></span></a><span style='color:black; font-family:Verdana; font-size:7pt'><strong> Learn why it is important to be totally ready before you get married.<br /></strong></span></p><p><br /> </p><p><br /> </p><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Verdana; font-size:7pt'><strong>Christian Corner<br /></strong></span></p><p><a href='http://tinyurl.com/7cofcwk'><span style='font-family:Verdana; font-size:7pt'><strong>http://tinyurl.com/7cofcwk</strong></span></a><span style='color:black; font-family:Verdana; font-size:7pt'><strong> Outline of Sowing and Reaping Lesson<br /></strong></span></p><p><br /> </p><p><br /> </p><p><br /> </p><p><span style='color:black; font-family:Verdana; font-size:7pt'><strong>My Twitter:<br /></strong></span></p><p><a href='https://twitter.com/#!/PhDKINGBUSINESS'><span style='font-family:Verdana; font-size:7pt'><strong>https://twitter.com/#!/PhDKINGBUSINESS</strong></span></a><span style='color:black; font-family:Verdana; font-size:7pt'><strong><br /> </strong></span></p></span>EP Lockleyhttps://plus.google.com/103388382808402418676noreply@blogger.com0